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Scioto to race Saturday despite storm
June 30, 2012
Scioto Downs will race its Saturday program despite a storm that swept through central Ohio on Friday evening. "We’re racing at 6:30 p.m., as scheduled,” says Stacy Cahill, track general manager. "We lost power and had almost all our barn roofs ripped off. I want to thank the entire team he
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Ron Burke: "Lou trained well" at Meadowlands
June 30, 2012
Trainer Ron Burke had the 3-year-old colt pacer Sweet Lou out on the track at the Meadowlands Saturday morning and afterward he tweeted: "Lou trained well still tinkering with equipment." Railbirds at the Big M for the training mile told harnessracing.com that stopwatches clocked Sweet Lou's mil
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Sir Melo’s Z Tam wins again in the Excelsior
June 30, 2012
The 3-year-old colt pacer earned his third victory in four Excelsior starts this season by winning his $12,600 division by a quarter-length over Ideal Griff in 1:54.3 Saturday afternoon at Historic Track. Driven, trained and co-owned by Patrick Lachance, Sir Melo’s Z Tam has won four of 15
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3-year-old Reynolds divisions raced at Big M
June 30, 2012
Moonlit Dragon got up in the final strides to win the $50,552 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.   Driven by Eric Carlson, Moonlit Dragon sat well off the pace and rallied stoutly in the stretch to collar Gottaseeaboutagirl by thr
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Revenue Agent stretches win streak to five
June 30, 2012
Revenue Agent extended his win streak to five after a gate to wire effort in the co-featured $24,000 Open Trot at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday over a very fast track. The evening played host to three sub-1:51 miles on the 13 race card.   Sparks were flying early a
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The Ladies Man repeats in Beat The Heat
June 30, 2012
The $30,000 second round of the Beat The Heat Pacing Series took place on Saturday evening at Mohawk. After finding the winner's circle in the $20,000 opening leg, The Ladies Man continued his best stride as he capitalized off a perfect pocket trip by driver Aaron Byron to score in 1:51.
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Do It All Man upsets in FSBOA division
June 30, 2012
The 3-year-old colt and gelding trot division of the 2012 Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA) continued to produce upsets as a highlight of the Saturday evening program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.   In the $6,017 second leg of the FSBOA Sunshi
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Don't Know Chip scores in Tioga Open
June 30, 2012
Don't Know Chip and Corey Braden captured Tioga Downs' $16,500 Open Trot on Saturday night.   The duo got away fourth as Aruba Vacation (Fern Paquet Jr.) hustled the field to the quarter in :27.3. As the field raced past the half-mile mark in :58.1, Braden moved Don't Know C
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Another record-setting night at Pocono
June 30, 2012
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs's inaugural Sun Stakes Saturday had a bit of everything for harness racing fans. The favorites delivering world records were American Jewel in the $250,000 James M. Lynch Memorial for 3-year-old pacing fillies and Betterthancheddar in the $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace, w
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Deja vu for Sapphire City at Yonkers
June 30, 2012
Sapphire City (Brent Holland) duplicated last week's down-the-road effort Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $44,000 Open Handicap Pace.   Leaving from post position two--again--Sapphire City stepped around Hypnotist (Cat Manzi), then pocketed Jerry's Brown Gold (Pat Lachance).
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To Dream On romps by 11 in Simpson 2FT
June 29, 2012
To Dream On was ultra-impressive in her career debut, romping to a 1:55.3 score in the first of three $10,588 John Simpson Memorial divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack.   Driven and trained by Jimmy Takter, the daughter of Credit Wi
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The Bruzilian Blur upsets at Maywood
June 29, 2012
The first stake of the 2012 Maywood Park stakes season for Illinois conceived and foaled 2 year olds was contested on Thursday night as a field of seven state-bred pacing fillies squared off in the $12,000 Juxtaposition Stake. After finishing in the bridesmaid role in her last start at Balmo
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Scioto cancels Friday due to heat
June 29, 2012
Scioto Downs has canceled its Friday racing program because of the extreme heat and humidity that continues to envelope central Ohio. Scioto also canceled Thursday's program due to similar circumstances.   The health and safety of the horses and people are of paramount importance
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Thinking Out Loud wins Mohawk qualifier
June 29, 2012
North America Cup winner Thinking Out Loud made his first appearance Friday morning since winning the $1.5 million race June 16, scoring a 1:52.2 victory in a qualifier at Mohawk Racetrack. Stablemate Dapper Dude, third in the NA Cup, finished fourth in also his first start since the rich r
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Date changes to Mohawk stakes schedule
June 29, 2012
Woodbine Entertainment Group would like to inform horsepeople and racing fans of amendments to Mohawk's stakes schedule.   Any stakes that were originally slated for Tuesdays, before WEG shifted to a four-day-a-week schedule, will now be contested on Thursdays of the same week. &
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Sunday guaranteed Pick 4s at Tioga
June 29, 2012
Tioga Downs in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association's strategic wagering program will offer a $5,000 guaranteed Pick 4 each Sunday in July (July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29). The Pick 4 will be offered on the last four races of the day on each Sunday afternoon racing program (Post ti
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T.C. Lane named interim Registrar for USTA
June 29, 2012
T.C. Lane has been appointed Interim Registrar for the United States Trotting Association, replacing Janet Terhune, who recently resigned to take the position of director of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. The Registrar oversees applications for registration of new foals, as well
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NY stops drug testing of claimed horses
June 29, 2012
The Standardbred Owners of New York (SOA) has issued a press release to advise that New York will no longer be conducting post-race drug testing of claimed horses because of the expense. The SOA statement said through June 28, 273 claims had been entered, an average of 2.5 a card, for a tot
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Meadowlands Pick 4 provides value to bettors
June 29, 2012
The best bet in harness racing has been even better for Meadowlands bettors in the month of June. The Meadowlands Pick 4 on Saturdays normally comes with a $75,000 guaranteed pool total. But for the last two Saturdays in June, wagering in the Pick 4 has fallen short of the $75,000 guaranteed amo
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A sweet win for Don't Sugar Me at Hoosier
June 29, 2012
Don't Sugar Me recorded her first open-level win in the featured $24,000 Fillies and Mares Open pace at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday with trainer-driver Terry Cullipher at the lines. In gate-to-wire fashion, the 4-year-old mare equaled her lifetime best with a 1:53.1 performan
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Higher And Higher scores at Tioga
June 29, 2012
Higher And Higher made her first appearance back at Tioga Downs on Friday night since her sixth-place finish in this year's Artiscape Pace on June 10.   Trainer, driver, and co-owner Daryl Bier got Higher And Higher away fifth from post position number seven as the field passed t
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Lems holds onto slight lead in Vernon standings
June 29, 2012
Leading drivers Chris Lems, Rick Plano and Jimmy Whittemore all benefited from successful showings during Friday night's 10-race program at Vernon Downs.   Lems led the way with the trotters Royalty For Life (1:58.4) and Danijill (1:57) in events one and three, respectively, while pos
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A landmark day for Schnittker at Goshen
June 29, 2012
It was only the first start of Thirty Two Red's career, but trainer-driver Ray Schnittker liked what he saw.   Thirty Two Red won a $7,235 division of the Landmark Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers at Historic Track by 5 1/2 lengths over Story Book in a track-record 1:56.3 on Fri
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Chapter Seven wins Titan Cup in 1:50.4
June 29, 2012
Chapter Seven equaled his own 1:50.4 world record as he trounced the competition in the $201,700 Titan Cup on Friday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack.   Chapter Seven and driver Tim Tetrick sat third while Winning Mister carved fractions of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:23.3. Tetrick angled h
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Heston Blue Chip wins NYSS, now 4-for-4 in '12
June 29, 2012
New York Sire Stakes once again took over Yonkers Raceway, this time with Friday night's $340,239 Armand Palatucci Pace for 3-year-old colts and geldings.   A trio of consecutive ($113,413) contests, with Lawgiver Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr., $19) beginning the parade in a life-best 1:5
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Post time changes for Red Mile GC meet
June 28, 2012
The Red Mile's Grand Circuit meet, regarded as the sport's "greatest two weeks of racing," will see new post times for the first week, along with the addition of new wagering outlets for its simulcast signal and a new "Racing Under Saddle" event. With racing Thursday through Sunday, the Grand
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Palone now 10 from breaking Filion's mark
June 28, 2012
Trotslikethewind retook the lead past the quarter and made the move stand up as she captured Wednesday's $22,500 Filly & Mare Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows. Dave Palone drove three winners Wednesday, lowering to 10 his magic number to break Herve Filion's all-time North America
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New owner has 2 horses in Ontario Grassroots
June 28, 2012
Less than two years after he bought a share in his first racehorse, Leonard Christopher will be rearranging his Canada Day weekend plans to catch freshman pacing fillies Mach Star and Bluebird Creek in action on Sunday evening at Mohawk Racetrack.   "I've got to go to the cottage I ha
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Prestidigitator, Ontario 3YOs in OSS Saturday
June 28, 2012
Georgian Downs fans will get their first glimpse of Gold this Saturday as the province's top 3-year-old competitors show up in hopes of earning a return invitation to the following week's exciting Gold Rush event. Among the starters will be the trotting colt Prestidigitator, who will be mak
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Eaves says WEG has invested $175 mil in slots
June 28, 2012
On Wednesday (June 27), the Guelph (Ont.) Mercury newspaper contains the latest comments by Nick Eaves, president and CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, on the slots at the racetrack program. Eaves told Dave Briggs, who is also editor of The Canadian Sportsman, that Woodbine invested $175 milli
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Scioto cancels Thursday, Bluegrass moves posts
June 28, 2012
Scioto Downs has canceled its Thursday night racing card because of extreme heat conditions. Temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees in central Ohio Thursday.   Racing will continue, as scheduled, on Friday and Saturday evenings with post times at 6:30 p.m.   N
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Somebeachsomewhere shuttling to Australia
June 28, 2012
The pacing stallion Somebeachsomewhere will soon be traveling to Australia, where he will stand at stud for the 2012-13 breeding season at Empire Stallions outside of Melbourne. Somebeachsomewhere, the 2008 Horse of the Year, has been standing at stud at Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania and
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Fanning, Zenker receive Dewey scholarships
June 28, 2012
Julia Zenker and Veronica Fanning, two very hard working, high achievers, were selected as the 2012 recipients of this year's Dewey Degree Scholarship. It was their work ethic and self-motivation that brought them to the forefront of this year's candidates.   Julia Zenker is the daugh
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Possess The Will wins qualifier in 1:54.2
June 28, 2012
Possess The Will continued to prep for the upcoming Stanley Dancer Memorial Trot and Hambletonian by winning his second qualifier of the season Thursday morning at the Meadowlands. With Tim Tetrick driving, the Donato Hanover Hall colt won by one-half length in 1:54.2. From Above, also a 2011 st
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USTA committee calls for drug research, testing
June 28, 2012
At the most recent United States Trotting Association (USTA) annual meeting in February, USTA president Phil Langley appointed a committee of horsemen and track operators to study drug testing and to investigate what the industry can do to improve testing procedures, including providing more fin
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Diener named new chair of Indiana commission
June 28, 2012
Sarah McNaught announced that she will end her service as chairman of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, effective July 2, 2012. McNaught shared her decision to step down at the June 25 Indiana Horse Racing Commission meeting. Her term was set to expire in September of 2014.   Gover
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Ohio Roundtable files appeal challenging VLTs
June 28, 2012
The Ohio Roundtable group has filed an appeal of its lawsuit which challenges the constitutionality of video lottery terminals at the state's racetracks. The group filed its appeal in the Court of Common Pleas in Franklin County on Thursday (June 28).   On May 30 a Franklin
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NEW! Weekend Preview now available
June 28, 2012
The latest edition of HarnessRacing Weekend Preview is now available by clicking below or signing up by following the link at the top of this home page. Trainers Trond Smedshammer and George Teague Jr. talk candidly about their chances with their horses in the Titan Cup at the Meadowlands and th
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Romantic Moment fastest in NYSS splits
June 28, 2012
New York Sire Stakes invaded Yonkers Raceway Thursday night, with the $335,804 Art Watson Pace for 3-year-old fillies.   Centralia Hanover (Yannick Gingras) served up a 22-1 upset in the opening ($111,268) event. Leaving from post position No. 6, she wound up pocketed to just-over-eve
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Special Canada Day card Sunday at Mohawk
June 28, 2012
Racing fans will be treated to first class racing on a special Canada Day card this Sunday, July 1, at Mohawk. The Campbellville oval will offer 10 exciting races including two divisions of the Miss Versatility, featuring North America's top older trotting mares.   Pembroke Heat Wave,
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Schnittker to climb in the saddle at Goshen
June 28, 2012
Two fields of trotters will line up to race at Goshen (NY) Historic Track this Sunday at 1 p.m., with no sulkies or drivers. It's not a stampede; it's a race under saddle, with riders atop 14 trotters who will trade their sulkies for a saddle for the day.   Trotters are commonly
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"Sun Stakes Saturday" on tap at Pocono
June 27, 2012
One of North America's richest nights of racing gets underway this weekend at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, as the track presents their first ever "Sun Stakes Saturday.” All told, $1.5 million in combined purses have attracted the sport's best trotters and pacers to the five-eighths-mile track in
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Horse owners, farms step up to help SRF
June 27, 2012
The offers to help came pouring in when caring people heard of the Standardbred Retirement Foundation's (SRF) plight of losing its farm where it boards horses. The burden of finding a new home large enough for 42 Standardbreds and an office eased as 10 permanent homes were secured, some wit
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PP draw kind to Pocono stakes favorites
June 27, 2012
The fates of the post position draw certainly smiled kindly on the likely favorites in three stakes races headlining a 16-race card with over $1.2 million in purse offerings this Saturday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.   The $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace for older horses, the
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6:35 pm post for Meadowlands Pace card
June 27, 2012
The Meadowlands Pace Night card on Saturday, July 14, will have a special post time of 6:35 p.m. The $800,000 Meadowlands Pace will be the 11th race on the card, with the top 3-year-old pacing colts going to the gate at 10:15 p.m.   The stakes-filled program will also feature the
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Joanne Irving, wife of Dana Irving, dies
June 27, 2012
Joanne Irving, 84, of Boca Raton, Fla., formerly of Oxford, Pa., diedJune 24, 2012, at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. She was the wife of the late trainer/driver Dana L. Irving, who bred and raced the pacing great Red Bow Tie. Born in Caribou, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Albert a
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Brennan takes Betterthancheddar in Franklin
June 27, 2012
George Brennan was in the winner's circle after both eliminations for Saturday's $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace last weekend, once with an old friend and once with a horse he had seen but never driven.   Brennan guided Aracache Hanover to a track-record 1:48.1 win in his Franklin el
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Ranger sweeps FSBOA divisions
June 27, 2012
The leading driver in the 48-year history of harness racing in South Florida, Bruce Ranger has done it again. He summoned all of his skill to sweep both of the $6,000 3-year-old filly events for a second straight weekin the Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA) Sunshine St
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Hurrikane watch issued for Hempt final
June 27, 2012
John McDermott believed that if Hurrikane Kingcole put it all together on the racetrack, people would see a very fast horse. Hurrikane Kingcole had it all together in his elimination for Saturday's $300,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial for 3-year-old pacers at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. And he was fa
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NYSS for 3YO pacers set for Yonkers
June 26, 2012
New York Sire Stakes invade Yonkers Raceway this week, with events for 3-year-old pacers of both genders. Thursday night it's the $335,804 Art Watson for sophomore fillies, going as the first three races on the dozen-race card. The colts will take to the track on Friday night. Defending state
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Sweet Lou switched from steel to aluminum
June 26, 2012
When Sweet Lou finished fourth as the odds-on favorite in the Pepsi North America Cup, trainer Ron Burke pledged to undertake a complete review of Sweet Lou's rigging.   He has done just that. The result: Sweet Lou will be sporting new shoes for the July 7 Meadowlands Pace elimination
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Hoosier Classic seminar deemed a success
June 26, 2012
The Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale held its first Yearling Care and Preparation Seminar, Saturday June 23. With all Hoosier Classic and Hoosier Heritage consignors invited to this event, a large crowd was in attendance to learn from several industry experts.   Presenters included long-
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$500 winning trainer bonus at Tioga July 4
June 26, 2012
The racing schedule at both Tioga and Vernon Downs will change for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday week.   Tioga picks up an extra live date on the evening (6:50 p.m.) of Wednesday, July 4, and that card has been designated "Trainer Appreciation Day." The trainer of the
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The Ladies Man back for Mohawk series
June 26, 2012
The Ladies Man appears to hit his best stride when participating in the Beat The Heat Pacing Series at Mohawk. Last year, in its inaugural edition of the event, the gelding captured a preliminary leg of the series before finishing second in the rich $60,000 final.   This season, the 6
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Googoo Gaagaa in 5-horse Yonkers Trot field
June 26, 2012
Five 3-year-old colts, led by world champion Googoo Gaagaa, have been entered for the 58th edition of Yonkers Raceway's Yonkers Trot, first jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown. The limited number of entrants makes the race, worth $455,594, a one-dash-for-the-cash event set for a week from Saturda
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Takter always looking for next great horse
June 26, 2012
When Jimmy Takter left Sweden three decades ago for a career in harness racing in the U.S., he dreamed of finding success in the sport's biggest races. As he prepares for his induction Sunday in the Harness Racing Hall of Fame, his motivation remains unchanged.   "I'm still very hungr
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2YO trotting colts in action at Hoosier Park
June 26, 2012
The first 2-year-old races at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino this season were held on Tuesday (June 26) as three $10,000 divisions of "The George Sholty” series were contested, a late closing event open to two-year-old colt and gelding trotters.   Among the list of impress
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Gillis has high hopes for Santanna Blue Chip colt
June 26, 2012
Following Santanna Blue Chip's stellar freshman campaign in 2007, Jeff Gillis began to assemble a group of broodmares he felt would pair well with the son of Art Major when the time came for the pacer to retire. This Friday, Gillis will see his plan come to fruition as two-year-old pacing geldin
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Big racing card, record handle at Running Aces
June 25, 2012
Running Aces presented an expanded 11-race program with several of its best weekly races on Sunday, billed as "Family Carnival Night”, and the result was some exciting racing before a large crowd and an all-time track record handle of $225,096.   At Last turned the tables on last week
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Stakes winner Martha Maxine dies at 8
June 25, 2012
Martha Maxine p,5, 1:49.2 ($731,079), who became a stakes winner in open mare events but later was determined to be an anatomical male, died on the track at Mohawk on Saturday night while competing in a $30,000 claiming race for trainer Richard Moreau. He was 8 years old.   Martha Max
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Win Missy B in Currier & Ives record 1:54.4
June 25, 2012
Win Missy B, whose eight wins last year as a 2 year old included the Goldsmith Maid and Peaceful Way, won her first race of 2012 in four attempts Monday afternoon at The Meadows, capturing one of three $40,000 divisions of the Currier & Ives 3-Year-Old Filly Trot in a stakes record-equaling
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Funeral services set for Herman Brickel
June 25, 2012
Herman Brickel, a veteran racing official who worked as race secretary at Northfield Park and Hoosier Park as well as other tracks, and as presiding judge at Scioto Downs, died Monday in Columbus, Ohio, of an apparent heart attack. He was 72. Brickel also operated the Buckeye Standardbred Yearli
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Bamond to donate percentage to SRF
June 25, 2012
Horsemen continue to come to the assistance of the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, which in less than 30 days must find a new location for horses in its care. Following in the footsteps of earlier initiatives to provide the organization with financial help, horse owner Jeffrey Bamond said he
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Special hopes for special colt
June 25, 2012
Joe Holloway and John Travis have owned horses together for a number of years and have been friends going back to their days as fraternity brothers at the University of Delaware.   They have enjoyed success on the racetrack, perhaps most notably with stakes-winning filly pacer M
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Beat The Heat Series underway at Mohawk
June 24, 2012
The first leg of the Beat The Heat Pacing Series was contested in three $20,000 divisions on Saturday evening at Mohawk. The series is for aged pacers that are non-winners of $25,000 in 2012 as of May 31 (winners over $100,000 in 2011 are not eligible).   In the first division, Roadsi
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Fall Bliss wins Tioga open in 1:50.3.
June 24, 2012
Fall Bliss and Mark MacDonald captured Sunday afternoon's $16,500 Open Pace at Tioga Downs in a new lifetime best of 1:50.3. Starting from post position number four in a field of six, MacDonald settled in fifth as Vlos (Eric Carlson) cut through fractions of :26.1, :54.2, and 1:22.2. As the fiel
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Call Me The Breeze leads in Maine stakes
June 24, 2012
Three-year-old fillies took center stage on Sunday (June 24) as the Maine Sire Stakes program made its second appearance of the season at Scarborough Downs. The sophomore lasses contested three splits for purses in excess of $11,600 per dash under picture perfect conditions and a brilliant blue
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NJ's Big Deal captures Maywood Pace
June 23, 2012
Illinois conceived and foaled three-year-old pacing colts took center stage on Friday, June 22nd at Maywood Park as a field of eight gathered for one of Maywood Park's signature races, the $123,000 Maywood Pace. With a name fitting for such an event Stevanna Turner & John Fletcher's NJ's Big D
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Regulators, horsemen, vets meet about uniformity
June 23, 2012
Standardbred racing regulators from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware said that they would work to harmonize regional racing rules and explore implementation of time-based limits on medication administration following a meeting at the Meadowlands prompted by calls for uniformity by M
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Burke Stable's Camille wins Ellamony Classic
June 23, 2012
Heavy favorite Camille swept up in the final strides to win the $221,000 Ellamony Classic on Saturday afternoon at Flamboro Downs.   With Brett Miller in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke, the 4-year-old Camluck-Art Of Design mare sat seventh for most of the mile before charging home to
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Chapter Seven trots 1:50.4 world record
June 23, 2012
Chapter Seven easily overpowered the pacesetter, Winning Mister, to take the $40,000 Titan Cup Prep in world record fashion on Saturday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack.   Chapter Seven’s 1:50.4 clocking, which included a final panel of :26, was an all-time best for a 4-year-old
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Googoo Gaagaa's 1:50.4 a new all-age mark
June 23, 2012
On a night when three track records and two world records had already been established at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Googoo Gaagaa needed to come up with something special to steal the show. How does the fastest mile ever on a 5/8-mile oval work for you? Googoo Gaagaa came into the night ha
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Keemosabe a Sunshine State winner
June 23, 2012
The Saturday evening card at Pompano kicked off the 2012 Sunshine State Stakes for 3 year old state-bred colts and geldings on both gaits for purses of $6,000 in Florida Standardbred Breeders And Owners Association (FSBOA) series.   Keemosabe, a colt who was sidelined by ill
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Fuzzylegsandall shaves his lifetime mark
June 23, 2012
The 2012 edition of the Maine Sire Stakes program launched its summer-long season on Saturday (Juje 23) as the 3-year-old colt pacing division rocketed to the raceway at Scarborough Downs. Three divisions went to the post, contested for purses in excess of $11,700 and the buzz around the Downs a
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Hurrikane Kingcole, American Jewel set records
June 23, 2012
A record-setting night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on Saturday, June 23, began with the first elimination for the Ben Franklin, a free-for-all pace which Pocono will host for the first time next week. George Brennan drove Aracache Hanover, trained by Gregg McNair, to the Pocono all-
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Lindsey McKee wins women's 5K at Big M
June 23, 2012
More than $4,000 was raised to benefit the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer program during a day-night event that brought together athletes - both human and equine - on June 23 at the Meadowlands Racetrack.   A total of 168 runners sprinted across the fin
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NJ's Big Deal favored in Maywood Pace
June 22, 2012
If last week's Maywood Pace eliminations at Maywood Park were any indication Friday's $123,000 final figures to be an exciting affair from start to finish. Carded as race 10 on the 14-race program this test brings together the top Illinois conceived and foaled 3-year-old pacing colts in the Prairi
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Box closes soon for tickets to Hall of Fame dinner
June 22, 2012
If you plan to attend the induction ceremonies for this year's Living Hall of Fame in Goshen, the box is closing soon! The deadline for tickets is Wednesday. The Hall of Fame dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, July 1, on the lawn of hte Hall of Fame & Harness Racing Museum. This year's
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Meadows to introduce 50-cent Pick 3s, 4s
June 22, 2012
The Meadows Racetrack & Casino announced that, effective July 2, it will lower the minimum bet on all Pick-3 and Pick-4 wagers to 50 cents from the current $1. In addition, the track will introduce a second Pick-4 on each card and eliminate the 50-50/Pick 5 wager.   The changes are
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Ohio-bred mare Racy Tooter dies at 19
June 22, 2012
The 19-year-old pacing mare Racy Tooter, a winner of 27 races and $162,448 in purse earnings, died Monday, June 11, after breaking a leg while turned out at her home at R.C. Hunwick Farms in Galion, Ohio. A daughter of Tooter Scooter out of the $151,000-winning Gypsy Bret mare Race Muffin, Racy T
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San Pail fifth in Mohawk qualifier
June 22, 2012
San Pail, the 2011 Horse of the Year in both the U.S. and Canada, finished fifth in a qualifier Friday morning at Mohawk Raetrack. It was the 8-year-old son of San Pellegrino's first appearance since finishing second to Windsong Geant in an Open Trot April 23 at Woodbine Racetrack.   I
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Owner Grandich issues SRF funding challenge
June 22, 2012
New Jersey horse owner Peter Grandich has made an offer--and issued a challenge to other owners--to help fund the Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF).   Grandich, responding to news that the equine rescue group will have 30 days to vacate its farm in Hamilton, N.J., announced
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American Girl prevails in 12-horse ISS field
June 22, 2012
Post position proved to be no factor as American Girl overcame her rivals late in the lane to capture the third round of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday (June 22). Driven by Pete Wrenn, the daughter of Art's Chip
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MM's LuckyBoy takes Yonkers trot feature
June 22, 2012
Yonkers Raceway, undaunted by intermittent showers, persevered with a pair of $44,000 Friday night $44,000 co-features. The weekly Open Handicap Trot was won by MM's Lucky Boy (Brent Holland), zipping around the "good" oval in 1:54.2. That effort was a tick shy of the week-old, all-age track
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Kiddie McCardle captures Tioga open
June 22, 2012
Kiddie McCardle and Corey Braden took home Friday night's $16,500 featured fillies and mares Open Handicap Pace at Tioga Downs, scoring in 1:52.3.   Leaving from post position three in a field of seven, Braden settled in third as Itstimeformetofly (Lewayne Miller) was on top through an
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10 youngsters participate in Chicago camp
June 22, 2012
The Harness Horse Youth Foundation celebrated a one-day camp at Maywood Park Racetrack on June 13 with great success. A group of 10 youngsters from both Illinois and Indiana were in attendance garnering grooming, harnessing, and horsemanship tips from Maywood-based trainers. As well, the HHYF part
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Bettor's Edge, Coral Snake in 1:50.1 in NYSS
June 22, 2012
After turning in a big rally in the stretch drive in the North America Cup final, Bettor's Edge shipped over to Vernon Downs primed for a big effort in New York Sire Stakes competition, and he delivered. The 3-year-old colt by Bettor's Delight won his $44,000 split--one of three on the Friday
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Quick N Slick wins fourth of the season
June 22, 2012
Quick N' Slick made a bold move in sweeping past the leaders at the three-quarter pole to win the featured Friday night trot at Scioto Downs. Hall of Famer Chip Noble was in the sulky for owner Frances Schloss and trainer Scott Mogan. The mile was timed in 1:57.2.   Despite drawing post sev
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Vernon increases purses
June 21, 2012
Vernon Downs will sport bigger purses starting with the Thursday (June 21) card. For example, the purse for the open trot and open pace have been increased $1,000 each, from $9,500 to $10,500.   Jason Settlemoir, Vice President of Racing, said, "We are happy to be able to have shown c
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Check Me Out's next race the Hudson Filly Trot
June 21, 2012
After the tough battle with Maven in the $530,000 Elegantimage final at Mohawk Raceway, racing against the colts might not be too much harder. But trainer Ray Schnittker said he won't decide whether or not his top filly trotter will take on the colts in the Hambletonian until just before the box
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Breeders Crown champ Artist's View retired
June 21, 2012
The 8-year-old pacing stallion Artist's View p,5, 1:49.4 ($788,811) has been retired according to Buzzy Sholty, who trained the son of Artsplace-Lady Ashlee Ann throughout his career.   Artist's View is out of the prolific broodmare Lady Ashee Ann and is a half brother to Ashlee's Big
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TrackMaster adds info to past performances
June 21, 2012
TrackMaster Past Performance programs, including the standard, platinum and pace printed versions, have all been upgraded to include additional information related to horse breeding.   "How certain horses meet conditions for particular races has prompted a number of inquiries from our
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Big night planned for Lisa Photo fund-raiser
June 21, 2012
Award-winning Meadowlands Racetrack photographer Michael Lisa and his wife, Annette, will host the third annual Lisa Photo Stride For The Cure race and fund raiser for the American Cancer Society on Saturday, June 23.   Designated the seventh race on Saturday's card, the Lisa Photo St
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Possess The Will wins Q; Takter wins 7 baby races
June 21, 2012
Possess The Will, the 2011 Two-Year-Old Colt Trotter of the Year, made a successful sophomore debut Thursday morning at the Meadowlands, winning a qualifier in 1:54.2. It was also a big session for trainer Jimmy Takter as the 2012 Hall of Fame inductee sent out seven winners in nine races for 2
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Titan Cup final moved up a day to June 29
June 21, 2012
In the interest of having the sport's leading drivers available, and with the consent of all the connections involved in the race, the Meadowlands has moved the $201,700 Titan Cup final to Friday, June 29. The race was previously scheduled for Saturday, June 30.   Also, the Meado
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WEG's Eaves talks more about racing's future
June 21, 2012
Just days after the Ontario government passed a budget which called for eliminating the slots at the racetrack program, Woodbine president and CEO Nick Eaves has stepped up his comments about the future of the company's racing operations.   In a speech to launch the 153rd running
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Retirement Foundation needs help boarding horses
June 21, 2012
The Standardbred Retirement Foundation's (SRF) home must be vacated in 30 days. The leased facility has a new landlord whose demands for a rent increase by 75 percent, a price that is equally over market value, and impossible for SRF to manage.   "It is unfortunate, but this land
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Link to latest Weekend Preview now available!
June 21, 2012
The latest edition of HarnessRacing Weekend Preview is now available by clicking below or signing up by following the link at the top of this home page. There is plenty of racing action this weekend, with Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in the spotlight on Saturday night when the $500,000 Earl Beal Jr
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Stakes nominations up at Meadowlands
June 21, 2012
Lower fees help boost nominations to Meadowlands Racetrack's summer stakes events for two-year-old horses by over 35 percent in 2012. Nomination fees were reduced by 20 per cent, resulting in significant increases in horses eligible to the track's marquee events for freshmen, including the Pe
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Sweetasmusic in tune in INSS Gold
June 21, 2012
Sweetasmusic continued her winning ways in the third round of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday. Notching her fifth consecutive win, and third sire stakes win of 2012, the reigning freshman filly trotting champ turn
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Special horses, special night for Toscano
June 21, 2012
On a night of events and fund raising activities for the American Cancer Society, trainer and breast cancer survivor Linda Toscano has something special to look forward to.   Toscano will send out 2011 Hambletonian finalist Chapter Seven in his 4-year-old debut, the $40,000 Titan Cup
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Hoosier Park Pub players can play by mobile
June 21, 2012
Guests of Hoosier Park's Winner's Circle Pub, Grille & OTB now have a new and convenient way to place race wagers by means of the recently approved FastBet Mobile wagering system. Granted under a pilot program by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, FastBet Mobile offers guests the ability t
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Freshman filly pacers debut at Mohawk
June 21, 2012
Canary Island, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere out of the Goalie Jeff mare Duck Duck Goose, won an $18,000 conditioned pace for 2-year-old filly pacers Thursday night at Mohawk Racetrack in 1:59.4 over a "sloppy" racetrack. With trainer-driver Rick Zeron, Canary Island held on by a nose over Ra
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12YO Joey Chindano drives winner at Goshen
June 20, 2012
Joey  Chindano drove Kevin's Apples to a victory at Goshen's Historic Track on Monday, June 10. What's so special about that? Chindano is just 12 years old. On Sunday, June 10, at the Historic Track matinee races, Chindano, of Bullville, NY, made his first drive a winning
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2011 HOY San Pail to qualify Friday at Mohawk
June 20, 2012
Trotting titan San Pail, who last raced April 23 at Woodbine, is set to qualify this Friday at Mohawk, according to trainer Rod Hughes. A winner of $3,076,635, San Pail will look for his fourth straight Maple Leaf Trot title on July 21 at the Campbellville oval.   "He's right on sched
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Googoo Gaagaa draws 6 in $500,000 Beal final
June 20, 2012
Googoo Gaagaa, who won his elimination for the $500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial Trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in a world record 1:51.3, drew post six for Saturday night's rich race. Stormin Normand, who captured the second elim in 1:51.4, will start from post four in the nine-horse field of
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Hall making most of Big M driving stint
June 20, 2012
Tony Hall is one of the top drivers in Pennsylvania, yet he always relishes the chance to display his talents at the Meadowlands Racetrack. With several of the Big M regulars at Pocono Downs for stakes action, Hall will be a busy sulky sitter this Saturday, and a television guest on In The Sulky
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Plainridge cancels Thursday due to heat
June 20, 2012
Plainridge Racecourse has canceled its live racing card for Thursday, June 21, due to the extreme heat forecasted in southeastern Massachusetts. Racing will resume at Plainridge on Monday, June 25, at 4 p.m. (Plainridge)
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Jim Campbell: "very tough group of 3 year olds"
June 20, 2012
After watching Stormin Normand and Googoo Gaagaa become the only 3-year-old trotters in history to win in less than 1:52 on a five-eighths-mile track in their Earl Beal Jr. Memorial elimination races last week, trainer Jim Campbell was asked whether the world record was in jeopardy again in Satu
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Fortunista breaks maiden in NYSS
June 20, 2012
You don't usually see a 0-17 horse with lifetime earnings of $93,068. But that was the story of Fortunista (Credit Winner-Meadowbranch Mary), who finally found her way to the Buffalo Raceway winner's circle Wednesday night. Driver Dan Noble guided her to a 1:59.3 victory in the $4
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3YO Riccolo, 2YO Dune In Red easy winners
June 20, 2012
It was a very busy night of stakes action for Illinois conceived and foaled pacers and trotters on Wednesday night at Balmoral Park.   The most impressive effort of the night came from Walter and Paige Paisley's Riccolo. He kept his perfect 2012 record intact as he romped home wi
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Under saddle race set for Hambo card
June 20, 2012
An under saddle race for open trotters will be held on Hambletonian Day, Aug. 4, at the Meadowlands. The purse will be $15,000, half of it put up by the track, the other half by Blue Chip Farms, Winbak Farm, and Walnut Hall Ltd., each of which is contributing $2,500.   The race will b
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Quail wins in Sunshine State Stakes action
June 20, 2012
The day-long tropical rain in South Florida which stopped just before post time didn't dampen the spirit of the three year old fillies on both gaits as the Sunshine State Stakes kicked off on Wednesday, June 20, at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park. It's the opening event on the 2012 calendar
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Siegelman helping program aimed at military vets
June 20, 2012
Robbie Siegelman and HorseAbility, a center for equine-facilitated programs, are driven to help others.Together they soon will help others to drive.   HorseAbility, which was founded in New York by Katie McGowan in 1993, recently moved to a facility at SUNY College at Old Westbury on
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Decker Jr. wins Monticello "Junior" Free For All
June 19, 2012
In years past, with the old A-B-C system for classifying horses, the Junior Free For All was actually for the second best class of horses competing at a given racetrack during those years.   When Monticello brought back its Junior Free For All on Monday, one day after F
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Burke says he'll look at Sweet Lou's rigging
June 19, 2012
Although Sweet Lou isn't scheduled to race again until Meadowlands Pace eliminations July 7, he will be kept busy. Trainer Ron Burke indicated Monday he's considering a number of rigging changes following Sweet Lou's fourth-place finish as the odds-on favorite in last Saturday's $1.5 milli
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Companion late-closer for EBC added at Tioga
June 19, 2012
Tioga Downs will offer late-closers for those New York-bred 3-year-old pacers not competing in the Empire Breeders Classic (EBC). Horses nominated to any of the state-bred programs (NYSS, Excelsior and NY fairs) may be made eligible for these races. The condition for these events is no
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Arrangements for Jack Campbell
June 19, 2012
Jack Campbell, 80, a second generation horseman from Ailsa Craig, Ont., and father of Hall of Fame driver John Campbell and horseman Jim Campbell, died on Monday (June 18) after a brief battle with lung cancer. Campbell is survived by his wife of 59 years, Florence; his sons John and Jim; d
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2 NY harness tracks join forces on ADW
June 19, 2012
Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation, owner of Batavia Downs Casino, announced today a strategic partnership of services with Saratoga Casino and Raceway and eBet Technologies, LLC. Subject to approval of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, these two prominent New York State
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Can the 'Big Dog' beat the heat at Mohawk?
June 19, 2012
DM Big Dog Daddy, a 4-year-old son of Art Major, will look to find his winning stride come Friday evening at Mohawk in the $20,000 first leg of the Beat The Heat Pacing Series.   The winner of $41,530 has been ultra-consistent since entering trainer Bob Young's barn. The bay gelding h
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Dontfusswithruss shines in ISS division
June 19, 2012
Dontfusswithruss was back to his old form Tuesday, taking the third of four $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts & geldings in the evening's opener at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. The reigning freshman trotting champ turned in a gate-to-wire performance to
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Palone wins 5, now just 28 from Filion
June 19, 2012
Dreamlands Art stung Schoolkids to the quarter before yielding to the pocket, then blew by in the lane to capture Tuesday's $22,500 Preferred Pace at The Meadows. Dave Palone drove five winners Tuesday, raising his career total to 15,152 as he closes inexorably on Herve Filion's North American r
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Billmar Scooter repeats at Pocono
June 19, 2012
Billmar Scooter used a pocket trip and the passing lane to capture the featured mares' pace of the week for a second consecutive time on Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The race, which was contested by mares who are winners of over $25,000 lifetime, carried the night's top purse of
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Ehrhardt, Stahl top Northfield trainers, drivers
June 19, 2012
Kevin Ehrhardt continues to maintain a slim lead in the 2012 trainer standings at Northfield Park. A pair of wins on Saturday, June 16, increased Ehrhardt's tally to 34 victories this year. Completing the top five conditioners are Don Pfister (30), Darrell Rideout (27), Calvin Hollar (26) a
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Jeremes Jet fillies like Ontario's Grassroots
June 18, 2012
Three-year-old pacing fillies invaded Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday evening to battle for $144,000 in six Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions. Sylvain Filion and Express Jet kicked things off in the first race with a hard fought half length victory over last season's Grassroots champio
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George Napolitano Jr. gets 5,000th win in Philly
June 18, 2012
George Napolitano Jr. entered his day-night racing day of driving at Harrah's Philadelphia and Mohegan Sun at Pocono on Sunday with 4,999 career wins. He had 23 drives booked – eight at Philadelphia, and 15 at Pocono. He must have figured, "Let's get this over with early.”   And so
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American Jewel to supplement to Lynch
June 18, 2012
Brittany Farms' racing manager Myron Bell told harnessracing.com Monday morning that American Jewel, fresh off her world-record 1:48.2 victory in the $642,000 Fan Hanover final at Mohawk Racetrack, will be a $15,000 supplemental entry to Saturday's James Lynch Memorial at Mohegan Sun at Pocono D
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Big Bay Point takes Tioga feature in 1:51.4
June 18, 2012
Tioga Downs hosted a special Monday night racing program on June 18, with Big Bay Point capturing the $16,500 featured Open Pace in 1:51.4.   Leaving from post position number one, driver Lewayne Miller hustled Big Bay Point off the rail early to protect position, settling in third as
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Palone wins 4, just 33 shy of Filion's record
June 18, 2012
With his four victories Monday (June 18) at The Meadows, Dave Palone lifted his career win total to 15,147 as he pursues Herve Filion's North American driving record of 15,180, putting him just 33 wins shy of the record.   In other racing action at the track, rebounding from an unchar
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As Bad As Thunder wins another Harrington round
June 18, 2012
Racing fans that may have missed the showdown between As Bad As Thunder and Wind Me up in last week's $18,000 Open Pace at Harrington Raceway probably weren't disappointed with round two. Elizabeth Brittingham's As Bad As Thunder ($3.80, Bret Brittingham) won a stirring stretch duel over that rival
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Well To Do Guru wins Broadway Preview
June 17, 2012
State-bred pacers headlined a stormy Saturday night at Balmoral Park as a field of seven Illinois conceived and foaled stars were sent postward in the $30,000 Broadway Preview Stake. The sloppy surface and a lightning show that lit up the sky for most of the night could not slow down the 2011 Ho
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Historic win a Tioga record for Heston Blue Chip
June 17, 2012
The Historic Stakes rolled into Tioga Downs on Sunday afternoon in Nichols, N.Y., and helped produce two new track records.   In the first non-wagering event a field of four sophomore colt pacers went to the post with Heston Blue Chip a perfect two-for-two thus far in 2012. Regu
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Delano sets Buffalo track mark in NYSS
June 17, 2012
Delano, a 3-year-old Credit Winner colt out of the Conway Hall  mare Kelly Hall, won the $70,008 first division of the New York Sire Stakes for trotting colts in 1:56.3 on Sunday at Buffalo Raceway. That time eclipsed the former track record of 1:57, held jointly by Turtle Express and Whit
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Camels, ostriches, Sears star at Big M
June 16, 2012
The spectacle of camels and ostriches racing down the stretch produced the year's highest live attendance at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Friday night.   A crowd of 5,068 turned out to watch the exotic animals compete in non-wagering events held between the live harness races. The fes
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Sleazy Does It in Maywod Filly Pace
June 16, 2012
The first six-figure event of the season in the Chicagoland area took place on Friday night at Maywood Park as a field of eight Illinois conceived and foaled 3-year-old pacing fillies met in the $112,000 Filly Maywood Pace. When the smoke cleared Engel Stable of Il LLC's Sleazy Does It picked a
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NYSS 3CT divisions on tap Sunday at Buffalo
June 16, 2012
Two divisions of New York Sire Stakes races for 3-year-old colt trotters highlight the Father's Day card at Buffalo Raceway on Sunday afternoon. First post is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. (EDT).   In the first division, race five ($70,008), Delano (Ray Schnittker), who last year won six ra
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Jean Bryar dies at 87
June 16, 2012
Jean (McFarlane) Bryar, 87, of Pompano Beach, Fla., and Meredith, N.H., passed away on May 31, 2012. She was born in New York on March 11, 1925, the daughter of David E. and Emily (Cushman) McFarlane. As a young girl, she attended Oak Grove Seminary in Waterville, Maine. It was through
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Cowboy Terrier wins Big M baby race in 1:53.1
June 16, 2012
Cowboy Terrier, a son of Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Hanover mare Wild West Show bred and owned by Ray Schnittker and Charles Iannazzo, became the fastest freshman of 2012 Saturday morning at the Meadowlands with a 1:53.1 victory in one of 18 baby races.   With Schnittker dr
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World record lowered in Ellamony elims
June 16, 2012
Fourteen aged pacing mares shipped to Flamboro Downs on Saturday afternoon to compete in the elimination round of the Ellamony Classic, which saw millionaire pacing mare Voelz Hanover and Warrawee Koine turn in a pair of world record performances.   In the first of two $20,000 eliminations,
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Check Me Out, Beer Summit set Mohawk records
June 16, 2012
The first stakes race of a star-studded night at Mohawk Racetrack Saturday night was the $530,000 Elegantimage for 3-year-old filly trotters and although it went to the heavily-favored Check Me Out, it wasn't easy for the reigning divisional champion.   Driven by Tim Tetrick, Check Me
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Trainer Mark Ford wins 3,000th race
June 16, 2012
Mark Ford reached a career milestoneon Saturdaynight (June 16) as he became the third youngest trainer to ever hit 3,000career victories. Ford reached the milestone in the fourth race at Saratoga Casino and Raceway when My Gal Mykenna scored in a time of 1:56.1 in a $5,500 conditioned pace.
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Thinking Out Loud wins North America Cup
June 16, 2012
Trainer Bob McIntosh, inducted in both the U.S. and Canadian Harness Racing Halls of Fame, won his first-ever $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack, scoring the elusive victory with Thinking Out Loud. Driven by Randy Waples, who also scored his first NA Cup win, T
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Revenue Agent wires Hoosier Open Trot
June 16, 2012
Revenue Agent extended his win streak to four after he front-stepped his way to the winner's circle in a lifetime best effort in the co-featured $24,000 Open Trot at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday.   With an abbreviated field of six, Pete Wrenn sent the Jeff Miller-trained gel
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American Jewel wins Fan Hanover in WR 1:48.2
June 16, 2012
Brittany Farms' homebred American Jewel was pressed to the get the lead early but after she did there was no catching her as she won the $642,000 Fan Hanover final for 3-year-old filly pacers Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack in a world-record 1:48.2. Tim Tetrick drove for trainer Jimmy Takter as
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Louisiana lab finds powerful painkiller in samples
June 15, 2012
According to reports, a powerful new painkiller has been positively identified in post-race testing in Louisiana by respected laboratory director Dr. Steven Barker. The drug is dermorphin, an opioid that is produced naturally as a secretion by South American frogs but can also be produced synthe
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Kentucky court overturns Instant Racing
June 15, 2012
The Kentucky Court of Appeals Friday morning overturned a judge's ruling allowing racetracks to have Instant Racing machines, which allow bettors to wager on races previously run without knowledge of the outcomes. According to the Louisville Courier Journal, two of the three judges agreed tha
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3YO Historics roll into Tioga on Sunday
June 15, 2012
The Historic Stakes for 3 year olds roll in to Tioga Downs on Sunday afternoon with a post time of 1:30 p.m. Two of the four divisions have been carded as non-wagering events due to four horses being entered for the 3-year old colt pace, and six horses (with a three-horse D.R. Ackerman entry) be
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Zeron promises wife trip to Paris if filly wins
June 15, 2012
If RickZeron can craft a winning trip with Miss Paris in the $530,000 Elegantimage final on Saturday night at Mohawk, the end result will mean a trip to "The City of Light” for the veteran driver and his wife, Joyce.   "I want you to write this down,” said Zeron, who recorded his 7,50
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Rockincam suffered atrial fib in Bettor's Delight
June 15, 2012
Rockincam, who did not finish in the Bettor's Delight at Tioga Downs last Sunday, was a victim of atrial fibrillation but appears to have recovered well, owner Steve Farrell told Harness Racing Communications. Rockincam was a winner earlier this month in the $200,000 Dan Patch. The 5-yea
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Allstar Legend sizzles in 1:48.2 in PASS
June 15, 2012
Allstar Legend sizzled to a track record 1:48.2 victory in the last of four divisions of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers Friday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia. Also capturing a split in sub-1:50 territory was Bakin On The Beach, who crossed the wire in 1:49.4, while EZ No
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Ultimate Velocity rallies for Hoosier victory
June 15, 2012
Ultimate Velocity utilized her customary late charge to prevail in the featured $24,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday. In just her second seasonal start, Ultimate Velocity notched the first victory of her 2012 season in 1:51.4, just missing her lifetim
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Brennan sweeps Yonkers features
June 15, 2012
Yonkers Raceway returned from hiatus Friday night with a pair of $44,000 co-features. The weekly Open Handicap Trot was won by Blacktuxwhitesocks (George Brennan) in track-record timing.   Ordered outside his seven rivals, "Blacktux" settled in fourth as 11-10 choice Lorenzo Dream (Ja
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Googoo Gaagaa in WR 1:51.3 in Beal elims
June 15, 2012
The 3-year-old trotting colt Googoo Gaagaa rolled to victory in world-record time in an elimination race for the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial Trot on Friday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The race carried a purse of $25,000.   In the first of two eliminations, Googoo Gaagaa, who
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Career best for Southwind Pepino at Scioto
June 15, 2012
Trainer-driver Sandy Beatty put Southwind Pepino on the lead early in Friday's featured trot at Scioto and rebuffed a challenge by J J Hall to win in 1:55.3. The handsome 4-year-old son of Chocolatier took a new lifetime record in winning by three-quarters of a length. Bettors sent him off as th
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Stiletto becomes sport's newest millionaire
June 14, 2012
He was a top trotter once, but in the twilight of his racing days he'd peen picking up mostly minor checks in claimers. But on Wednesday at The Meadows, Stiletto barreled home for Mike Wilder to finish second; the $1,125 he picked up lifted him past $1 million in lifetime earnings, a fitti
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Grandich joins board of Christian Harness group
June 14, 2012
Peter Grandich, founder of Grandich Publications and Trinity Financial Sports & Entertainment Management Company, which represents professional athletes, has joined the board of the Christian Harness Horsemen's Association. "I'm honored to join the board and very much looking forward to shar
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New whipping policy at Tioga starts Saturday
June 14, 2012
Tioga Downs has joined forces with the Southern Tier Harness Horsemen's Association in developing a pilot program for whipping that will take effect this Saturday night (June 16). The guidelines for the whipping program are below, and will be handed out to drivers and trainers in the paddock thi
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Handle up 20 percent at Scioto meet
June 14, 2012
After its first 16 racing programs of the 2012 season, handle at Scioto Downs is up more than 20 percent. Racing general manager Stacy Cahill attributes that to improvements in the penthouse and grandstand facilities and the efforts of pari-mutuel manager Steve Carpenito.   "We're ple
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Possess The Will may return to track next week
June 14, 2012
One prominent trotter missing from action in this weekend's big races for 3-year-old trotting colts is Possess The Will, the 2011 Dan Patch 2-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year. Trainer Jim Campbell hopes to qualify the Donato Hanover colt next week at the Meadowlands.   "He
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Plenty of action on NA Cup night at Mohawk
June 14, 2012
Racing fans will be treated to world-class racing along with a number of exciting promotions this Saturday at Mohawk, the night of the 29th edition of the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup.   To kick off the evening, racing enthusiasts can get autographs from their favourite driver
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Another 'sweet' Cup moment for Pinske?
June 14, 2012
In a race chock full of compelling storylines, this Saturday's Pepsi North America Cup will no doubt have special meaning to Tim Pinske and his family. When this year's $1.5 million classic gets underway, thousands of racing fans will have gathered at Mohawk, while thousands more will be watchin
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Round 2 of TrackMaster handicapping open
June 14, 2012
Three final slots are on the line again this week as round two of the TrackMaster Harness Handicapping Challenge opens on Thursday at 3 pm Eastern. The final boasts cash prizes totaling $3,500.   Qualifying round #1 of the eight-week long TrackMaster Harness Handicapping Challenge was
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Fox Valley Hermia favored in Maywood Filly
June 14, 2012
The state's top sophomore pacers will all be in action on Friday evening as a field of eight Illinois conceived and foaled fillies square off in the featured $112,000 Filly Maywood Pace final while 13 of their male counterparts will meet in a pair of $10,000 Maywood Pace elimination's. The top f
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A real "Junior" free for all at Monticello
June 14, 2012
In what may be a harness racing first, eight juniors will line up behind the mobile starting gate at Monticello Raceway on Monday, June 18, and drive their horses to the finish, each seeking to be the winner of the track's first-ever Junior Free For All.   When fans view the official
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New! Weekend Preview now available!
June 14, 2012
The latest edition of HarnessRacing Weekend Preview is now available by clicking below or signing up by following the link at the top of this home page. There is plenty of racing action this weekend, with center stage being Mohawk Racetrack where the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup tops a s
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Here's My Ticket fastest in DSBF splits
June 13, 2012
Round two of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies that included three $20,000 divisions, were the main attraction on the Tuesday Harrington Raceway program.   Designer Bags ($5.40, Allan Davis) won the first division after her usual
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Woodbine's Eaves talks about slots, racing
June 13, 2012
The Woodbine Entertainment Group, the largest business in the Ontario horse racing industry, has been relatively quiet about the Ontario government's plans to end the slots at the racetrack program through the provincial lottery corporation. But at Tuesday's Pepsi North America Cup draw, Woodbin
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Lenore Alpert, wife of Sid Alpert, dies
June 13, 2012
Lenore Alpert, 83, well known in harness racing during the last half of the 20th century, died June 10 in Silver Spring, Md.   Mrs. Alpert and her husband, Sidney, were known at a number of racetracks where her husband's company, Electronic Race Patrol, provided sound and video. Among
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Tioga's week reviewed on Inside Harness Racing
June 13, 2012
The 8-year-old pacing mare Dreamfair Eternal broke her own track record in capturing her second Artiscape Open Mare Pace over the weekend at Tioga Downs.   The historic win is chronicled on this week's episode of "Inside Harness Racing.” The program airs at a special time of 9 p.m.&nb
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2012 Hambo to be televised live on CBS Sports
June 13, 2012
The $1.5 million Hambletonian, the richest race for 3-year-old trotters in the world, will air live from The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, NJ, on CBS Sports Network on Saturday, Aug. 4, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. [EDT]. The Hambletonian has enjoyed a 37-year run on national television, and remai
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Kentucky votes to ban stakes race-day Lasix
June 13, 2012
Kentucky is poised to become the first jurisdiction in North America to ban the race-day use of the anti-bleeding medication Lasix in Thoroughbred stakes races after the state's Horse Racing Commission voted Wednesday in favor of the rule change. In April the commission failed to approve a rule
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McDonald moves to Pompano trainers' lead
June 13, 2012
Jim McDonald surged to the lead by sending out a pair of winners on the Wednesday evening program, but the summer meet contest for top trainer will be tight right down to the finish on July 28 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park.   McDonald harnessed up claiming mare pacer SOS Rive
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Riccolo rolls to sixth straight at Balmoral
June 13, 2012
Illinois conceived and foaled pacers and trotters were in action on Wednesday at Balmoral Park as a pair of events shared top billing on the program.   Coming off five straight victories to start his 3-year-old season, Walter and Paige Paisley's Riccolo was sent off as the
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Action-Broadway looks for Armbro Flight encore
June 12, 2012
Action-Broadway returned to the winner's circle in last weekend's eliminations for the $376,000 Armbro Flight Stakes for older female trotters at Mohawk Racetrack, and trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. is hopeful that's a good sign.   Sent off at odds of 69-1, Action-Broadway and driver Doug
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Big M, PA tracks to alternate Open races
June 12, 2012
Meadowlands Racetrack, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and Harrah's Philadelphia have reached an agreement to alternate the dates of their free for all races in order to spur fuller fields and wagering on the upper echelon of horses.   Utilizing the existing stakes calendar for openings,
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Karen Goans dies
June 12, 2012
Karen B. Goans, 61, of Greensburg, Pa., died June 9, 2012, in Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital, Greensburg.   She was born March 17, 1951, in Waynesburg, the daughter of Johnetta (Kurtyka) Battistoni and the late Charles S. Battistoni Sr. She had been employed by IBM in Pittsburgh. &nb
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Scholarship race held at Tioga
June 12, 2012
On Sunday afternoon, June 10, at Tioga Downs, five local area high school students got the opportunity of a lifetime in the third annual Tioga Downs' Scholarship Race. The students representing five local area high schools were: Kayla Pepper of Johnson City High School, Whitney Seabrooks of Bin
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Favored Sweet Lou to start from 4 in NA Cup
June 12, 2012
Sweet Lou, last year's champion 2-year-old colt pacer in the United States, heads a field of 10 of the continent's finest 3 year olds for Saturday's $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk Racetrack.   Post positions were drawn Tuesday afternoon at Mohawk, with N
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14 entered in Beal Memorial for trotting colts
June 12, 2012
Fourteten horses will compete in eliminations for the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial Trot for 3-year-old trotting colts on Friday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The line-ups for the elims, each with a purse of $25,000, are below. The fields include Googoo Gaagaa, Stormin Normand an
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Box closes Thursday for Historics at Tioga
June 12, 2012
The time-honored Historic stakes for 3-year-old trotters and pacers will be raced at Tioga Downs on Sunday, June 17. Entries will be taken by the Tioga Downs race office at (607-699-7688) until 9 am on Thursday, June 14. The list of eligibles may be found here and follow this link for the Tioga
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NJ Ag Secretary meets white colt at Fair Winds
June 12, 2012
On Tuesday (June 11) New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher visited Mark Mullen, owner of Fair Winds Farm in Cream Ridge, to meet the much-acclaimed Coochie Mama and her foal, a rare white colt. Tthe last known all-white Standardbred in North America was born in Canada a
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Schoolkids erases Riyadh's Meadows mark
June 12, 2012
Following his cover beautifully, Schoolkids brushed through the lane Tuesday at The Meadows to capture the $22,500 Preferred Pace in a swift 1:49.4 and erase the oldest record on the books at The Meadows. The winner is owned by New Jenneration LLC (Heather Kolczynski) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
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Takter talks about his Fan Hanover contenders
June 12, 2012
Romantic Moment might not be the best known 3-year-old filly pacer owned by Brittany Farms and trained by Jimmy Takter, but that's far from a knock against her. It's tough to get noticed when American Jewel is your stablemate. But Romantic Moment is trying to gain attention. After winning h
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Givens trifecta in DSBF divisions
June 11, 2012
Trainer Les Givens captured three of the five $20,000 divisions of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) stakes for 3-year-old trotters Sunday at Harrington Raceway.   Nanticoke Racing and Ross Wolfenden's Windshield (Wolfenden, $2.10) won his 13th race in 15 starts with a do
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Ostriches, camels, broadcasters to race at Big M
June 11, 2012
For the first time, animals other than horses will race across the finish line at the Meadowlands!  Camel and ostrich racing makes its debut Friday, June 15. The exotic animals will race in between the live horse races. The first event will take place after race five (8:30 p.m.) and the sec
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Pens' McKelvie holds onto HANA lead
June 11, 2012
This past week, three different handicappers took top honors in HANA Harness' The Pen vs. The Chip Handicapping Challenge sponsored by the Hambletonian Society, Meadowlands, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs. By the time the dust settled, Pen Handicapper Mark McKelvie barely held on to the lead in th
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Burke wants post 3 or 4 for Sweet Lou
June 11, 2012
When Sweet Lou powers from the gate in Saturday's C$1.5 million final of the Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk Racetrack, he likely will be leaving from post 4 or 3.   Under NA Cup rules, the connections of last week's elimination winners, Sweet Lou and Dapper Dude, select the post po
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Fillies battle in Fox Valley Diva splits
June 11, 2012
Trotters and pacers were both in action on Sunday night at Balmoral Park as a pair of state- bred events highlighted the 11-race program. A total of 15 three-year-old trotting fillies met in a pair of $9,000 Fox Valley Diva Stake splits while six Illinois conceived and foaled 2-year-old pacing c
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Raffle for UFO sulky to benefit Christian HHA
June 11, 2012
UFO Racing LLC has donated a UFO race bike to the Christian Harness Horsemen's Association to be raffled off at the Hambletonian on Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Meadowlands. You can obtain tickets now at http://www.chha.net/.The bike will be painted in the winner's choice of colors.
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SBOANJ scholarship deadline looming
June 11, 2012
Applications for the 2012 Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey college scholarships must be submitted and postmarked by June 25, 2012.   Scholarships, which can range from $2,500 to $5,000, are for qualified students who plan to attend a two or four-year colleg
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Yonkers returns Friday with purse increase
June 11, 2012
Recess is just about over. Yonkers Raceway, dark since the June 2 stakes card, returns Friday night with a dozen-race dossier.   Yonkers also returns with a nearly 20 percent, across-the-board purse increase. The new purse structure ranges from $11,500 for non-winners of two pari-mutu
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Post 3 for Check Me Out in Elegantimage
June 11, 2012
The luck of the draw was unkind to Check Me Out the last time she competed at Mohawk Racetrack, so this time nothing was left to chance.   Check Me Out lost only two races in 16 starts last year. The first came in her elimination race for the $455,940 Peaceful Way Stakes, when she was defea
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Winning Mister survives inquiry at The Meadows
June 11, 2012
Winning Mister survived a stiff challenge from an unexpected source as well as a judges' inquiry en route to victory in Monday's $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows.   Winning Mister dueled with Sir Caviar for the early lead, forced to go :26.3 to get there. Although Sir Cav
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Flying Instructor scores in DSBF showdown
June 11, 2012
Three divisions of the top Delaware-bred pacing colts and geldings went postward in $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) eliminations Monday at Harrington Raceway.   The second division on the card pitted last year's $100,000 DSBF final winners in an early showdown in the seco
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Wishing Stone, VC Chocolatier win in Denmark
June 10, 2012
Wishing Stone, the winner of the 2010 Kentucky Futurity, captured the Copenhagen Cup in the Danish capital city on Sunday afternoon (June 10). The 5-year-old son of Conway Hall was driven by Jeppe Juel while Bo Westergard handled the training of Wishing Stone in Denmark for regular conditioner A
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Fields set for Goodtimes, Fan Hanover
June 10, 2012
The fields are set for the $642,000 Fan Hanover Stakes and the $351,000 Goodtimes, while the draw for the Pepsi North America Cup will take place Tuesday.The fields for the $530,000 Elegantimage and the $376,000 Armbro Flight are also set.   Here is the line-up for the Fan Hanover: 1-
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Dreamfair Eternal, Clear Vision star at Tioga
June 10, 2012
Fans were treated to 20 of the sport's best horses in training and two fantastic races on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs: the $184,000 Artiscape Pace for mares and the $182,000 Bettor's Delight open pace.   In the Artiscape Pace, Dreamfair Eternal and Jody Jamieson left from pos
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Marty Party sets PASS mark at The Meadows
June 09, 2012
Shrugging off a demanding 26.4 opening quarter, Marty Party remained strong to the wire Friday at The Meadows, capturing a Pennsylvania Sires Stake division in a stake-record 1:51.3. The $278,886 event for 3-year-old filly pacers, known as the Adios Betty, was contested over three divisions,
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For A Dancer, Archangel in Empire Breeders Classic
June 09, 2012
The superiority of New York-bred 3-year-old trotters For A Dancer and Archangel was again apparent on Friday night at Vernon Downs by virtue of the fact that each was a track record-breaking winner in this season’s $472,750 Empire Breeders Classic divisional events. For A Dancer remained unde
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2YO trotters impress in Meadowlands qualifiers
June 09, 2012
Saturday morning's qualifers for 2-year-old trotters at the Meadowlands included several impressive performances. Solveig's Breeders' Dontyouforgetit, a colt by Cantab Hall out of Solveig, turned in the fastest time for a freshman colt trotter to date winning in 1:58 flat for trainer-driver Jimmy Ta
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Shebestingin in 2YO Season's Record 1:54.3
June 09, 2012
David Miller guided Shebestingin (Bettor's Delight-Armbro Tussle) to a national season's best record for 2-year-old pacers of 1:54.3 in a Saturday morning qualifier at the Meadowlands. Trained by Joe Holloway the freshman filly is owned by Val D'Or Farms, Ted Gewertz and L&L Devisser LLC.
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Florida amateur drivers remember Bob Arnold
June 09, 2012
A special winner's circle presentation was conducted after the first race of the Saturday, June 9 program at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park by the Florida Amateur Driving Club (FADC) to remember the late Robert (Bob) Arnold. A plaque presentation was made to Renee Arnold, Bob's widow, and fam
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Wrenn doubles up in Hoosier Park co- features
June 09, 2012
Paco Labrook earned his first lifetime Open-level win with an impressive 1:50.4 triumph in the co-featured $24,000 Open Pace at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday (June 11). In a lifetime best effort, Paco Labrook  was able to overcome a taxing trip to score his third straight vic
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E Street Plan, River Shark win features
June 09, 2012
E Street Plan and Mike Simons took home Saturday night's second division of the Nichols True Value late closer at Tioga Downs with a 1:51 performance. At Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, River Shark was a 1:49.3 winner.   E Street Plan and Mike Simons left alertly from post position number
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Sweet Lou sizzles in 1:47.4 NA Cup elim win
June 09, 2012
How 'Sweet' it is. It will be even sweeter for Sweet Lou's connections next Saturday if he can duplicate his elim performance in the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup final for 3-year-old pacers.   Saturday at Mohawk, Sweet Lou, a son of 2003 Cup winner Yankee Cruiser, let eve
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Ohio Sire Stakes action at Scioto
June 09, 2012
Two of the best freshman pacing fillies in Ohio last year scored their first victories of the 2012 season in Ohio Sires Stakes action at Scioto Downs on Saturday night. Scioto carded 14 races on Saturday and 13 different drivers visited the winner's circle. The only driver to win two races wa
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A sweep by Brittany-bred fillies by American Ideal
June 09, 2012
Brittany Farms, trainer Jimmy Takter, driver Tim Tetrick and the sire American Ideal swept the two eliminations for the Fan Hanover Stakes on Saturday night at Mohawk, with Romantic Moment and American Jewel scoring.   The Brittany-bred and owned Romantic Moment won the firs
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Goodtimes for Market Share, Knows Nothing
June 09, 2012
The eliminations for the Goodtimes Trot both were won by Market Share (Revenue) and Knows Nothing (Kadabra), with both colts needing fast miles to take their respective races.   Market Share, with Tim Tetrick driving for trainer Linda Toscano, enjoyed a second-over trip behind Lindys
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3YO trotting filly Bingo Queen 1:57.2 winner
June 08, 2012
The sophomore trotting filly Bingo Queen trotted to an easy 1:57.2 win at Scioto Downs on Thursday night with Dan Noble, the leading driver in North America last year, in the sulky. Bingo Queen was one of four winning drives for Noble on Thursday night.     The daughter of CR Excalibur
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Maywood Pace elims for fillies held at Balmoral
June 08, 2012
Pacing fillies were front and center on Thursday night at Maywood Park as a total of 12 Illinois conceived and foaled 3 year olds squared off in a pair of $10,000 Filly Maywood Pace eliminations. The top four finishers will return on Friday, June 15, for the $112,000 final. In the opening spl
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Ohio horse owner Charles Fennell dies
June 08, 2012
Charles A. Fennell, 79, died Sunday, June 3, at his home in Maple Heights, Ohio. Mr. Fennell was an avid harness racing fan and Standardbred owner for more than 50 years, attending the races at Northfield Park, the Ohio fairs, and the Little Brown Jug. Among the horses he owned was the invita
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From Above, Chapter Seven win qualifiers
June 08, 2012
From Above, a winner of four of six starts as a 2 year old, including stakes both weeks during the fall Grand Circuit meet at The Red Mile, won his second start behind the gate this year when he qualified at the Meadowlands Friday morning.   With Tim Tetrick in the sulky for trai
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McNair's taking shot at NA Cup with "Knight"
June 08, 2012
Doug McNair may look like your average 22-year-old, but not too many people his age have the opportunity to drive away a winner in the world's richest standardbred pacing event. He sports blond, tussled, yet meticulously placed hair, fashioning an Aeropostale t-shirt and jeans with flip flops.
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Hypnotic Blue Chip racing Satuday at Big M
June 08, 2012
This year's deep crop of free-for-all pacers just added another world champion to its ranks. Hypnotic Blue Chip has come out of retirement and will make his 2012 debut in Saturday's tenth race at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The 6-year-old son of Art Major, who holds a 1:47.2 world record and earn
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From railbird at Yonkers to driving at Goshen
June 08, 2012
Night after night, Barry Addison was at Yonkers Raceway, hanging on the fence and watching the action. A resident of nearby Mount Vernon, N.Y., he had been going to the races for as long as he could remember, introduced to the sport by his grandfather, also named Barry.   Night after
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Rockincam returns to action in Bettor's Delight
June 08, 2012
Steve Farrell had a plan for Rockincam. It required patience, but if the horse’s results this year are any indication, it was worth the wait. Farrell bred and owns Rockincam, a son of Cambest out of the mare Migraine. He didn’t race Rockincam as a 2-year-old, raced him lightly at 3, and bum
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All star fields headline Bettor’s Delight and Artiscape Paces
June 08, 2012
Sunday afternoon (June 10 – post time 1:30 pm) twenty of arguably the best aged horses in all of harness racing will converge on the five eighth’s mile oval of Tioga Downs in Nichols, New York. Ten of the very best aged male pacers will line up for the $182,000 Bettor’s Delight open
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Red S repeats in fillies and mares feature at Hoosier Park
June 08, 2012
Red S made it two in a row winning the featured $24,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday (June 8).  Red S repeated her win in the Open ranks for the second straight week as she coasted to a 1:52 triumph, also a lifetime best effort. As part of
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Check Me Out & Maven score in Elegantimage elims
June 08, 2012
The finest sophomore trotting fillies on the continent were showcased at Mohawk on Friday evening in a pair of $30,000 Elegantimage Stakes eliminations. Hambletonian eligible Check Me Out and Maven scored victories in their respective eliminations. Check Me Out, who has amassed 16 wins from
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McNair doubles up in Armbro Flight elims
June 08, 2012
The sport’s top trotting mares stormed into Mohawk on Friday evening to contest a pair of $50,000 Armbro Flight eliminations. Driver Doug McNair found the winner’s circle in both eliminations with Pembroke Heat Wave and Action Broadway. In the first elimination, Pembroke Heat Wave and China
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All Star Player's 1:53.1 leads PA Stallion Series
June 07, 2012
Winless at age two, All Star Player showed off her new and improved form Wednesday at The Meadows when she captured a Pennsylvania Stallion Series division in a stakes-record 1:53.1. The $100,000 event for 3-year-old filly pacers was contested over five divisions, with Nuclear Photo, Terror To C
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$50 mil for "transitional funding" in Ontario
June 07, 2012
A release from Ontario's Liberal government on Thursday (June 7) officially announced the transitional fund established to "help the horse racing industry transition from the Slots at Racetracks program to a more sustainable, self-sufficient model."   The announcement said the province
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Takter has 2 entries in Fan Hanover elims
June 07, 2012
Trainer Jimmy Takter will be racing two colts in the North America Cup elims, a colt in the Goodtimes eliminations, and the fillies American Jewel and Romantic Moment are his representatives in the Fan Hanover eliminations for 3-year-old filly pacers. American Jewel saw her 2011 campaign
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Play the summer Handicapping Challenge
June 07, 2012
Saturdays this summer harness racing fans will have their time to shine with a chance to compete for cash and prizes in the exciting Harness Handicapping Challenge. Be crowned the challenge champion and take home bragging rights and the ultimate prize of $2,000 cash! Co-sponsored by TrackMaster,
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Guaranteed Pick 4 for Sunday's Tioga card
June 07, 2012
Tioga Downs, in conjunction with the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program, will offer a $5,000 guaranteed pick four on Sunday, June 10, for the Bettor's Delight and Artiscape races. The pick four will be spread out from race nine ($182,000 Bettor's Delight) through the f
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Handle up 20% on Running Aces opener
June 07, 2012
Running Aces opened its fifth season of live racing Wednesday night (June 6) to a large, enthusiastic crowd just as it has in each of the new Minnesota track's first four seasons. Despite a heavy rainstorm that lasted an hour just prior to first race post, more than 2,000 patrons packed the c
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NEW Weekend Preview now available!
June 07, 2012
The latest edition of HarnessRacing Weekend Preview is now available by clicking below or signing up by following the link at the top of this home page. The racing action is heating up as fast and this week's edition has the fields for the big stakes, plus comments from trainers about their 
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Mike Merton drives 2,000th winner
June 07, 2012
When Mike Merton guided the trotter Marquee T to a 2:01.4 wire-to-wire victory at Monticello Raceway on Thursday (June 7), it marked his 2,000th career win.   "I'm glad it's finally over now,” a seemingly relieved Merton said after his victory. "I was going along at a good clip then al
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Empire Classics for trotters at Vernon Friday
June 07, 2012
The top New York-bred trotting sophomores will gather at Vernon Downs on Friday evening to contest the rich Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) finals.   Ladies first, and the chase for the big share of the $239,500 final (race 6) is led by last year's NYSS final winner For A Dancer. Traine
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Austin Galentine passes away at 80
June 06, 2012
Austin E. "Ned" Galentine, a longtime horseman and former racing official, passed away on May 30, 2012, two weeks prior to his 81st birthday, after a short stay at the Delaware Hospice Center, Milford, Del. Born in Amesbury, Mass. Galantine served four years in the U.S. Army, including two ye
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Big weekend ahead at Tioga and Vernon
June 06, 2012
A look back at the career of famed pacer Artiscape as his namesake race is only days away. That’s the highlight of this week’s edition of "Inside Harness Racing.” "Inside Harness Racing,” a weekly, half-hour television show, airs today (Wednesday) at a special time of 10:30 PM on Time Warner
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North America Cup to be live streamed
June 06, 2012
Once again, Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) will live stream the post position draw for the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup. The draw, which will take place Tuesday, June 12 at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, will get underway at noon and will be streamed live at NorthAmericaCup.
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Horse contracts Eastern Equine Encephalitis
June 06, 2012
A 3-year-old horse from Burlington County was euthanized on May 27 after testing positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), a serious, mosquito-borne illness in horses. "It is very early in the season to see Eastern Equine Encephalitis so horse owners need to be vigilant in vaccinating t
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A new chapter for See You At Peelers
June 06, 2012
One could determine from See You At Peelers’ accomplishments that she was special on the racetrack.  In the eyes of those around her, though, it was unnecessary to look merely at paper for such assurance. It was evident by the way she went to work.  "She had charisma, like a great
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Michigan horsemen urged to contact Speaker of the House
June 06, 2012
Attention all Michigan horsemen. We need you. Please contact Speaker of the House James Bolger at 517.373.1787 and also e-mail him at jasebolger@house.mi.gov. Horsemen please be professional and polite and request the Speaker to put House Bill 5546 up for a vote and say your
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3YO filly trotters prepare for Elegantimage
June 06, 2012
All Ready Hanover has garnered attention since she stepped out onto the racetrack for her three-year-old campaign and she will look for more in her Elegantimage Stakes elimination this Friday at Mohawk. After destroying the competition at Kawartha Downs on April 14 by a whopping 23 and a qu
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Report highlights WEG's commitment to community
June 06, 2012
Woodbine Entertainment Group's (WEG) sixth annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, A Strong Community Partner, released today, highlights the important role that WEG plays in the community and its industry-leading commitment to its stakeholders, community partners, employees, the indu
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Duneside Perch 2YO 1:55.2 Balmoral winner
June 06, 2012
Balmoral fans got a sneak peek at some of this year's two-year-old filly pacing crop here in the Prairie State on Wednesday night as a field of eight youngsters went postward in the $6,000 Egyptian Grande Stake.Fresh off an impressive win in the second of two qualifying efforts the Mike Einhaus
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Heston Blue Chip headlines NYSS at Monticello
June 06, 2012
A stellar card  of 15 races featuring three splits of the $160,000 NY Sire Stakes for 3 year old pacing colts  and geldings and six divisions of the Excelsior Series, also for sophomore colt pacers, made for a successful afternoon of racing not only enjoyed by the  race winners bu
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Financial Glider wins in 1:57.1 at Pompano
June 06, 2012
Financial Glider was away from the track for over three and a half years to begin her career as a broodmare, and since returning to racing recently she's racked up a second victory.The 8-year-old daughter of Yankee Glide-Financial Paige romped home in the first race of the Wednesday (June 6) pro
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Mulinix talks about A Rocknroll Dance
June 06, 2012
If A Rocknroll Dance is as difficult to catch on the racetrack as he is in the field, trainer Jim Mulinix could be looking at a big season with the colt. The term "good feeling” is appropriate when talking about A Rocknroll Dance, who enters Saturday's eliminations for the C$1.5 million Pepsi No
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Running Aces Opens Fifth Season Wednesday
June 05, 2012
Running Aces is excited to start its fifth race season Wednesday, June 6, at 6:30 p.m. in Columbus, Min. The purses are larger, the promotions are bigger and live music has been added. At 6:30 p.m. a professional skydiver from Skydive Forest Lake will be dropping in with an American flag for the
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New rules force three NYSS splits at Monticello
June 05, 2012
The new format for the New York Sire Stakes program will make its Monticello Raceway debut on Wednesday afternoon, June 6. Three divisions of New York Sire Stakes will race for a total purse of $150,813 while six splits of the new Excelsior Series (formerly late closers) will go for a total purse&
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North America Cup draws 19 in two eliminations
June 05, 2012
The continent’s finest three-year-old pacers will go postward Saturday, June 9, at Mohawk Racetrack in two eliminations for the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, the world’s richest pacing event on June 16.The $50,000 eliminations drew 19 Cup hopefuls. Each elimination will qualify the first
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Currier & Ives to Frost Bites K, Upfront Billy
June 05, 2012
Frost Bites K set a lifetime mark of 1:55.2 and Upfront Billy scored in 1:56 in two $65,947 divisions of the Currier & Ives 3-Year-Old Open Trot at The Meadows Tuesday afternoon, June 5. Dave Palone was in the bike for Frost Bites K and Brian Zendt was at the lines for Upfront Billy as both ho
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Here's My Ticket leads DSBF filly winners
June 05, 2012
For the third straight night at Harrington Raceway, Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) horses headlined the program, as this time the 3-year-old pacing fillies were in action in three $20,000 eliminations. However, driver Ross Wolfenden stole the sophomore pacers thunder by winning eight r
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Radar Contact Wins Feature Pace at Pocono
June 05, 2012
Radar Contact rallied in the final strides for a thrilling victory in Tuesday night’s featured pace for mares at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The race, which was a condition for mares who are non-winners of $25,000 lifetime, carried the night’s top purse of $25,000. Radar Contact, a 4-year-ol
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Delaware Breeders Fund action at Harrington
June 04, 2012
Four Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) divisions of 3-year-old trotters went postward in $20,000 elimination legs Sunday at Harrington Raceway.   Nanticoke Racing and Ross Wolfenden's Windshield (Wolfenden, 2:00.4) was the fastest of the colt divisions, which were held as non-wager
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Big Rigs 1:52.4 winner at Pocono
June 04, 2012
Big Rigs powered home for a come-from-behind victory in the stretch in the featured trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, highlighting the season's first Sunday night card at the track. The feature, a condition trot for non-winners of $25,000 lifetime, carried the night's top purse of $25,000. Leavi
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Eighthundrdolarbill fastest in NYSS at Buffalo
June 04, 2012
Sunday afternoon racing kicked off at Buffalo Raceway with three divisions of New York Sire Stakes sophomore filly pacers on Sunday. Eighthundrdolarbill, Major Look, and Another Hanover each took their respective divisions. With her victory, Eighthundrdolarbill remained undefeated in six starts at s
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Gural bans Brennan after driver's comments
June 04, 2012
Racetrack operator Jeff Gural has confirmed that he has banned driver George Brennan from competing at his tracks following Brennan's comments to The New York Times about the suspension of trainer Lou Pena.   Gural told Derek Giwner of the Daily Racing Form that he took the action because "
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Monticello looking for "Jr." drivers for Father's Day tribute
June 04, 2012
Fern Paquet Jr. is the latest addition to Monticello Raceway's "Junior Free For All," a tribute to fathers one day after the National Holiday.   Slated for Monday, June 18, Monticello will have the special race to honor fathers, especially the ones whose sons have become harness driver
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NY Rangers star Del Zotto to draw NA Cup posts
June 04, 2012
Michael Del Zotto, star defenseman for the New York Rangers, will be the special celebrity drawmaster for this year's $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup. Del Zotto will be on hand to assist with the noon draw, set for Tuesday, June 12, at Mohawk, with the race set for Saturday, June 16.  
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Statement from Gural on Meadowlands
June 04, 2012
The following is a statement from New Meadowlands chairman Jeff Gural. It includes information regarding business and also addresses the Lou Pena case.   "I thought I would update everyone on the status of the Meadowlands and our efforts to build a new grandstand on the opposite side of the
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Break The Bank K 1:54.2 winner at Meadows
June 04, 2012
Break The Bank K needed a pair of moves to make the front, but he had enough in his account to capture Monday's $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot at The Meadows. Break The Bank K won the 2010 Breeders Crown at age three but missed all of last year with injuries. He's rounding into top form
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Flying Instructor leads Delaware Breeders winners
June 04, 2012
Three $20,000 divisions of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings went postward Monday as part of a 13-race program at Harrington Raceway. Legacy Racing of Delaware, Nanticoke Racing, Niel Gargiulo and Louie Paglieriani's Flying Instructor ($2
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2 divisions for Tuesday's Currier & Ives
June 03, 2012
Since 1975, the Currier & Ives at The Meadows has been an important early-season test for aspiring 3-year-old trotters. Six of those young trotters realized their dreams big time, winning both the Currier & Ives and the Hambletonian: Steve Lobell (1976), Green Speed (1977), Burgomeister (198
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Bettor's Reward wins Tioga Open Pace
June 03, 2012
Bettor's Reward did just what his name indicates and sent his backers home happy in today's featured Open Pace.   Sent off as the $1.80 second choice, Mike Simons allowed the early action to unfold in front of him while taking a seat fourth along the rail with Bettor's Reward. Fox Val
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Archangel erases Dewey's Vernon mark
June 02, 2012
Archangel stole the show in Friday night's Empire Breeders Classic elimination races at Vernon Downs, establishing a 1:53.4 track record for 3-year-old colt trotters.   Jim Morrill Jr. drove in the $12,500 event, the second elimination for New York-bred male members of the diagonal gai
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Dewey, SBSW have winners at Meadowlands
June 02, 2012
The 2-year-old racing season is now underway with the first baby races of the season at the Meadowlands Saturday morning. Members of the first crops of Deweycheatumnhowe and Somebeachsomewhere had winners on the program, as did sires Crazed, Muscles Yankee, and American Ideal, whose three winner
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Time To Roll edges A Rocknroll Dance by a nose
June 02, 2012
Colts trained by Jimmy Takter won two of the four New Jersey Sire Stakes finals for 3-year-olds contested on Saturday night (June 2) at the Meadowlands. Takter's winners were the trotter Little Brown Fox and the pacer Time To Roll. The other NJSS finals went to Sarandon Blue Chip (3-year-old fi
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Pet Rock rallies for 1:51 Rooney victory
June 02, 2012
Pet Rock used a pocket trip and the Yonkers passing lane to rally for a victory in the $306,204 Art Rooney Pace Saturday night (June 2). Driven by Brian Sears, Pet Rock defeated Bolt The Duer in 1:51, a stakes record time. Virgil Morgan Jr. trains the colt sired by Rocknroll Hanover for own
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Rockincam upsets Golden Receiver in Dan Patch
June 02, 2012
Rockincam and driver Pete Wrenn used a valiant stretch drive to overtake a field of nine opponents in the 19th installment of the $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational Pace on Saturday (June 2) at Hoosier Park. Steve Farrell's 5-year-old horse stopped the timer in 1:51.1 for his fourth win i
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Michaels Power now 4 for 4, headed to NA Cup
June 02, 2012
With his win in a Somebeachsomewhere division, Michaels Power (pictured) is now four-for-four this year. Two $100,000 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes divisions were held Saturday night at Mohawk. The Ontario-sired Secretsoftheknight (1:52) and Michaels Power (1:51.1) won their resp
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Diamond Stick Pin beats Melvyn at Vernon
June 02, 2012
Diamond Stick Pin re-established himself as pacing King-of-the-Hill following his narrow victory over newcomer Melvyn in Saturday night's $9,500 featured ninth race at Vernon Downs.   Two-time defending Downs driving champ Jimmy Whittemore did the teaming for trainer Jessica Okusko in
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Sweetasmusic still perfect in ISS
June 01, 2012
Sweetasmusic captured the second round of the $30,000 Indiana Gold Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Thursday to remain perfect in sire stakes action this season and retain her four-for-four win streak.   Over a "sloppy" rated track, Sw
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Heavy rain forces Maywood to cancel after 6
June 01, 2012
Despite the best efforts of the track crew at Maywood Park, Thursday night's 12-race program was forced to be cancelled after race six due to unsafe track conditions. With daylong rains pelting the area the track was scraped early in the program in hopes of keeping the racing surface safe fo
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Saracuda best in Scioto feature
June 01, 2012
The favorites raced to form in Thursday night's feature at Scioto Downs as Saracuda edged Facial Excpressions by a neck in the 2:00.2 trotting mile. Chip Noble drove the winner for trainer-owner Charles Lee Jr. of Ohio. Driver Jack Dailey had Passionate Gold, sent off at odds of 53-1, away fa
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Rosecroft closes Saturday with all superfecta
June 01, 2012
The spring 2012 season closes on Saturday evening at Rosecroft but there is plenty of action set for that evening. With the fantastic cooperation of local horsemen enough entries came in to have an entire card of superfecta wagering. A lucky 13 races will be contested on the betting card, with q
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Illinois Senate approves slots--barely
June 01, 2012
A bill that will allow slot machines at Illinois racetracks as well as stand-alone casinos, including one in Chicago, narrowly passed the state Senate Thursday night. The measure passed by one vote—30-26—but was six votes shy of being veto-proof from Gov. Pat Quinn, who has stated previous concern
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Pittsburgh legend Ed Ryan dies at 88
June 01, 2012
Ed Ryan, a former Pittsburgh racetrack owner, horse breeder and owner and philanthropist, died in suburban Pittsburgh early Friday morning (June 1). Mr. Ryan had been in ill health for several years and had suffered a stroke earlier this week. He was 88.   Mr. Ryan enjoyed success as a
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Holloway making news with Escape The News
June 01, 2012
Two decades ago, Joe Holloway, one of Standardbred racing's leading conditioners, sent out a horse in one of the sport's biggest events, the $1 million North America Cup at Greenwood Raceway.   Although the betting public didn't show much interest in Safely Kept the night of the 1992 North
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Illinois horsemen applaud slots approval
June 01, 2012
The Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association (IHHA) applauds the Senate's passage of SB1949 late Thursday. Passage of the bill is another step toward allowing slot machines at horseracing tracks in Illinois, which will boost purse values and help Illinois horseracing stay competitive with other state
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Scioto begins new era with VLT gaming
June 01, 2012
The action on the track at Scioto Downs was hot Friday night, but not nearly as hot as the action in the adjacent racino as the Columbus track ushered in a new era in Ohio racing. Thousands poured through the doors of the opulent new gaming facility and liked what they saw. They marveled at the d&ea
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Vivid Photo to be officially retired June 23
June 01, 2012
Vivid Photo, the winner of the 2005 Hambletonian, will be retired from racing Saturday, June 23, at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, the same night the track plays host to the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial Trot. "The Beal Memorial is always a special night, and having Vivid Photo as a guest will just make i
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HTA issues statement
June 01, 2012
Paul Fontaine, president of Harness Tracks of America (HTA), released the following statement outlining the association's position with respect to recent events in racing involving alleged medication violations and enforcement of racing regulations. In light of highly publicized recent events
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Yonkers purses to increase 20 percent
June 01, 2012
When Yonkers Raceway returns from recess, it's going to be accompanied by a sizable purse increase. Effective Friday, June 15, an approximate 20 percent, across-the-board increase goes into effect.   The new purse structure is now going to range from $11,500 (for non-winners of two pari-mut
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Googoo Gaagaa scores in 1:53.4 in Philly
June 01, 2012
Googoo Gaagaa stayed in shape by trotting to a 1:53.4 victory in an overnight race at Harrah's Philadelphia on Friday afternoon. The 3-year-old colt by Cam's Rocket was driven by his regular driver, Corey Callahan.   Callahan and Googoo Gaagaa had post one but got away sixth in th
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All Ready Hanover defeats Win Missy B
June 01, 2012
Despite unfavorable weather conditions at the Mohawk oval, a pair of Casual Breeze divisions took place featuring the sport's top sophomore trotting fillies.   In the first $79,519 split, All Ready Hanover rose to the challenge and upset the highly talented Win Missy B, who bank
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Feeling You prevails in Yonkers mare pace
June 01, 2012
Odds-on favorite Feeling You (Eric Goodell) found the passing lane just in time Friday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's co-featured $36,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace. In play early from post position five, Feeling You was stuffed in behind Breakheart Pass (Jason Bartlett) before a :26.2 opening q
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Sweet Lou jogs over sloppy track in PASS
June 01, 2012
Sweet Lou continued to show his best form as he won a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes division at The Meadows Friday night by a comfortable five lengths. With rain turning the track sloppy, Sweet Lou covered the oval in 1:50.3. Two other divisions, all with purses of $93,000 to $94,000-plus, went to
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Leanback Coco gets back on winning track
June 01, 2012
On a windy, rainy night at Tioga Downs, the first leg of the Morrisville College Sale late closer was contested with three divisions behind the gate. In the first division, race favorite Opinion Hanover left from the gate to take the field through fractions of :29.2, 1:00.3 and 1:28.4. Unchallenge
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Former president Bill Clinton at Meadowlands
June 01, 2012
Former President Bill Clinton was in attendance at the Meadowlands on Friday night. Clinton was in the Pegasus dining area on the top level of the track attending a fund-raiser for New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez.   Meadowlands operator Jeff Gural is active in Democratic fund-raisers and
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